How to Murder a Man

By Carlo Gébler

Book Overview

All histories are really murder stories ... he who murders most, wins.

Written with style and a savage grace, How To Murder A Man by Irish novelist Carlo G bler, is a gripping portrayal of a largely untold part of Irish history. Inspired by true events, the novel follows land agent Thomas French, appointed to bring order to a decaying profitless estate in County Monaghan, Ulster, following the Great Famine.

When he offers the poverty-stricken farmers free passage to America in exchange for the rights to their land, French attracts the enmity of the local Ribbonmen?a brutal and merciless secret society?who sentence the land agent to execution. A battle of wills ensues between French and Isaac Marron, the leader of the Ribbonmen, whose attempts at bloody retribution only serve to drive a divided community still further apart.

The unflinching depiction of casual violence and deep-rooted prejudice has strong contemporary resonance. G bler's lack of sensationalism in describing horrific scenes of cruelty, and his refusal to oversimplify issues, ultimately increase the impact of this story.

Novelist, playwright and broadcaster Carlo G bler was born in Dublin in 1954, the son of famous Irish novelist Edna O'Brien. A graduate of York University and the National Film and Television School, G bler has directed a number of television documentaries and contributed articles to many prominent newspapers and magazines. He now lives in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland. His other works include W9 And Other Lives, published by Marion Boyars in 1998.

"G bler at his disturbing best."?The Sunday Times.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0714530581
• ISBN13: 9780714530581
• Release Date: July 2000
• Publisher: Marion Boyars Publishers
• Length: 373 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 5.8" x 8.8"

Customer Reviews

Gripping Irish History!

Carlo Gebler, a popular Irish author who is virtually unknown in the US deserves a much wider audience. How to Murder a Man (a terrible title for such a great novel) is wonderfully written. Full is rich historical detail, strong characters and an interesting plot. The year is 1854, and newly appointed land agent Thomas French has the responsibility of collecting rents on an estate in Ireland that hasn't collected a cent in years. A local organization, the Ribbonmen, terrorize anyone who tries and promptly issue a death threat to French. This makes him even more determined to carry out his duties. A subplot involving two teenage lovers beautifully intertwines the dilemmas of all the characters.